| So, you learned HTML and now your ready to | | | | website's look and feel from the functioning |
| design your website. Well, as an experienced | | | | code. If you design the code yourself, you'll |
| web designer let me share some tips. | | | | be tempted to mix the look and feel with the |
| | | | functioning aspects. So, if later you want to |
| 1. Use CSS (cascading style sheets). If you | | | | update the look and feel, you'll have to dig |
| do not know CSS, learn it. CSS allows you to | | | | through the long software scripts. If you're |
| keep the formatting of your site (e.g. the | | | | going to be using freeware or any other code |
| color or size of a piece of text) on a | | | | that you didn't design yourself, you should |
| separate single page - a CSS document. Thus, | | | | still be familiar with that language. |
| with CSS you can change the formatting of a | | | | |
| common-element by simply updating one piece | | | | 4. Don't use free or cheap web-hosting. Okay, |
| of code on one page, rather then updating all | | | | this isn't necessarily a design tip. However, |
| the pages of your site. For example, if you | | | | hosting is related to design. Free hosts may |
| want to change the back-ground color of your | | | | scatter your website with annoying ads. So, |
| website, you could just change your one CSS | | | | you won't be able to load your site as is. |
| sheet and your entire website's background | | | | Also, free and cheap hosts often don't |
| color would change. Another great aspect of | | | | support dynamic websites. Unless you're |
| CSS is that you can use it to set the default | | | | website is supposed to be a joke, don't use a |
| properties of HTML tags. This can be used to | | | | free host. |
| counter browser compatibility problem - that | | | | |
| different browsers (e.g. Internet Explorer, | | | | 5. Don't write your email address on your |
| Netscape, etc.) use different default | | | | website. If you have a phone number or |
| settings. | | | | mailing address that your customers can use |
| | | | to reach you or your business, publish that |
| 2. Test your website in all browsers. Just | | | | on your website. Website's with a phone |
| because your website displays a certain way | | | | number or mailing address appear much more |
| in one browser, doesn't mean it will display | | | | reliable and honest than websites without |
| that way in another browser. You should check | | | | contact information. However, don't publish |
| that your website displays properly in all of | | | | your email address, because spammers will use |
| the major following browsers: Mozilla | | | | web-crawlers will to pick it up. Instead, |
| Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Netscape, and | | | | design a form on your website that customers |
| Opera. | | | | can use to send messages or questions without |
| | | | giving your email address. |
| 3. Use open source software and freeware, if | | | | |
| you want to create a dynamic website. Even if | | | | 6. Take it slow. Unfortunately, the only way |
| you know dynamic languages (such as | | | | to become an expert designer is through |
| JavaScript, PHP, and CGI) well enough to | | | | experience, but your business can't afford |
| create your own software and features, you do | | | | sloppy pages. Don't attempt to design complex |
| not want to do that if you are a beginner. | | | | and dynamic websites without the ability. If |
| There's no reason to create your own dynamic | | | | you try to design a code, but find it hard |
| scripts (e.g. shopping carts, chat-rooms, | | | | and the code begins to come out sloppy, don't |
| etc.), if you can find full-functioning | | | | hesitate to just throw it out. It's better to |
| customizable freeware. A great benefit of | | | | have a simple, sleek, and functional website, |
| this method is that the customization options | | | | than to have a complex, sloppy, dysfunctional |
| will separate the code that changes your | | | | website. |